Tag Archives: chambray shirt

The closet clean-out that only kind of happened

Casual Friday · Office Appropriate Outfits - Spring

I first saw a pair of leopard print sneakers on Shopbop a few years ago but I didn’t buy them when they had my size. I debated purchasing them on eBay, but never pulled the trigger. Then I saw these and knew it was a sign.

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same shoes | same jeans | same watch | similar shirt | same tank 

Yes, I know, this makes three pairs of leopard or cheetah print shoes that I own (sneakers, wedges, and flats). I recently took my leopard print heels to a clothing swap, though, so at least I don’t have four pairs!

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I recently read an amazing post on Style by Joules on how she got rid of a huge chunk of her wardrobe and paired it down to essentials. It’s very motivating, albeit a bit scary, to see how just her shoe collection diminished!

I got rid of a bunch of stuff when we moved but there are still things I can’t seem to part with. Like my navy J. Crew blazer. I longed for that thing but now I rarely wear blazers. Still, I am loathe to move it out of my closet. Even if my uniform most days is skinny jeans with a top like this or with a tank or tee and a cardigan. Because, yeah, this outfit is very similar to one I wore a few years ago…but that one had a blazer!

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Heels, though, I’m slowly donating. Some have ended up in Annabelle’s LuLaRoe boutique so if you’re trying on a dress you can see how it looks with heels (if you’re a size 7.5 or 8, anyway). Some have just gone to clothing swaps and ended up in thrift shops. Some I can’t get rid of just yet, though. Like these pink puppies.

Speaking of getting rid of things, these particular jeans I have on this photo gave up in the waistband (they’re actually jeggings and the elastic gave out), so I just bought them again. I’m not a fan of Old Navy’s “sculpt” jeggings, but their regular ones are some of my favorite things to wear.

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I’m also in love with these tanks from Target and will buy them in every color given the chance. Although, honestly, I should just buy 10 of the gray one and move on. I would wear it every day if I could.

Sigh. I should really just realize that all those fancy business clothes in my closet are just taking up space. Anyone need a blazer or two?

P.S. Did you win the Chicago swag giveaway? Go check!

RIP Light Chambray Popover

Shopping

On Friday I went to the gym on my lunch break. I was wearing my light chambray popover top I bought 4 years ago from Old Navy. I crossed my arms over my chest in order to take my top off over my head when RIIIIIIP!

I’d hulked out of my shirt. Again. A huge hole ripped in the back of the shirt just below my left shoulder blade and it got bigger every time I moved my arm.

chambray-shirt-collage

A few times this shirt was featured on the blog.

1 | 2 | 3

Sadly, because this shirt is four years old, I have a feeling it’s going to be difficult to replace. I already checked Old Navy and J. Crew Factory, two spots where I’d seen light chambray popovers in the past. Alas, no luck. Plus, this one is unique because it has a v-neck but no “stand-up” collar. So, it’s not really a mandarin collar, either.

I searched my trusty ShopStyle and found a few that MIGHT be a replacement.


Now I just have to decide which one to try. Because I’m probably not going to stop lifting weights any time soon. So shirts are just going to have to get replaced when my lats explode out of the back.

Rainy Day Outfit

Casual Friday

Over the weekend we spent Christmas Day with Jason’s family and then we drove from Indiana back to Illinois to have Christmas with my family. Sadly, we did not have a White Christmas. Instead, it rained on our entire drive from Indiana to Illinois. Although, to be honest, I suppose that was better than having to drive in a snow storm.

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Vest – Groopdealz (similar) | Shirt – LOFT (similar) | Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters (same) | Boots- Kamik (similar) 

We have lovely Christmas celebrations with both our families, came home to a sleepy puppy, and now I’m back to work for a few days before I’m off for New Year’s.

Did you celebrate this past week? Do you have New Year’s plans?

IMG_2798 By the way, if you’re looking for rain boot alternative to the ubiquitous Hunters, especially if you have larger-than-average calves, I can highly recommend Kamik boots. I’ve had these for 5+ years and other than a few scuffs they’re like new. And they fit my calves with pants tucked in, which is more than I can say for most rain boots.

 

SIA: Thanksgiving Edition

Office Appropriate Outfits - Fall · Style Imitating Art

Happy Monday! For those of you who celebrated Thanksgiving this past Thursday I hope it was lovely. For those of you who just had a normal weekend, I hope it was lovely, too.

I spent the weekend eating and hanging out with my family at my parents’ house. I took the opportunity to put together an outfit for this week’s Style Imitating Art challenge that highlighted the black, tan and blue in the painting “Freedom from Want“.

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Dress as a skirt – Le Tote (same) | Sweater – Loft via Goodwill (similar) | Shirt – Old Navy (similar) | Necklace – New York & Co (similar) 

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I took advantage of my parents’ house and chose to take the photos in their dining room to also echo the painting.

My parents have lived in their current house for just over 10 years so although I didn’t grow up there, by now it’s definitely “home”. I think it’s so interesting that no matter where I go or where I live it’s wherever my mom is that I consider “home”.

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P.S. When Le Tote sends you a short sleeved dress in the fall, what do you do? You turn it into a skirt, of course! I originally was going to wear this with just the sweater over it but at the last minute I added the button-up. I think it ended up adding just the right amount of interest as well as an additional layer to help me stay warm.

This is the second time I’ve gotten this dress from Le Tote. You can see the first outfit I put together with it here.

Don’t forget you can sign up for Le Tote and get $25 off your first month with code ERIN25!

The Hunt For Brown October

Casual Friday · Office Appropriate Outfits - Fall

For at least a year I’ve seen women wearing brown flats. They’re all pretty similar and pretty basic. But, look, a casual brown flat is something I don’t have and something I find myself wishing I could reach for all the time.

For example, I saw this outfit on Pinterest and knew I had all the pieces to recreate it…except for brown shoes. So, instead, leopard to the rescue!

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Vest – Old Navy swapped from Jen (similar) | Top – Old Navy (similar) | Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters (same) | Shoes – Steven c/o Shopbop (similar)

Still, I’m on the lookout for brown flats. I ordered these from Zappos but when they arrived I noticed several things:

  1. They came up MUCH higher on my foot at the toes than I like. The vamp, I believe it’s called, covered up my tattoo and just looked really dowdy. However, if you don’t like “toe cleavage” then you might like the rise.
  2. The color wasn’t uniform. It was mottled and lighter in spots and darker in others.
  3. The heel still slipped even though it fit fine in the width at the toe.

So, back they went! I’ve now got these on order. My red MIA flats have lasted me for over 10 years at this point so I think if these fit they should last me awhile. If they don’t work, though, I think my next try will be these. Although, I have a Zappos gift card so I’d prefer to order from there. Suggestions are welcome!

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P.S. These are probably the last photos on my rooftop for awhile. Apparently they are closing it to repair our building’s roof. Sad face for me but I suppose a happy face for the people who are tired of leaks.

An Anniversary Memorial

Casual Friday · Office Appropriate Outfits - Summer

On May 25, 2003 Jason and I got married on a cool, windy day outside a restaurant overlooking a golf course in our hometown of Champaign-Urbana, Illinois.

Twelve years later, on a cool, windy day in Chicago we celebrated by going to Dave and Buster’s and winning a giant banana.

It may not be a wedding dress, but this is what I wore for our anniversary outing.

June 2, 2015 + June 3, 2015 - 2 of 7

Chambray shirt – LOFT (similar) | Tee – Target (similar) | Pants – LOFT (similar) | Shoes – Madden Girl via DSW (same) | Shorter necklace – Gorjana via Rocksbox (use code looplooksxoxo for a free month!) | Longer necklace – VO Jewelry

June 2, 2015 + June 3, 2015 - 3 of 7Our anniversary typically falls on or near Memorial Day weekend and this year it was on Memorial Day itself. I admit, I felt a bit costume-y wearing camo and a necklace made out of a bullet on the day when we honor those we lost to war. Maybe my outfit was a tad insensitive but I didn’t think about that until afterward!

Regardless, I wore it again to work the next week on a random day that didn’t have any specific military connotations. Because I liked the outfit anyway.

And this time I even had a pedicure to go with my sandals. (Ugh. Worst segue ever.)

June 2, 2015 + June 3, 2015 - 4 of 7I was visiting my mom this past weekend and she offered to give me a pedicure. I wasn’t going to turn her down! Now, if I can just get her to do one every few weeks. You hear that, mom?

June 2, 2015 + June 3, 2015 - 1 of 7

 

 

Then and Now [Vol. 7]

Casual Clothes · Casual Friday · Office Appropriate Outfits - Spring · Then and Now

As mentioned yesterday, I wanted to show you a casual way to wear my new wood watch from JORD. Today’s casual outfit, however, might look really familiar since it’s almost the same as what I wore the last time I was in Arizona. Except this time I swapped the black jeans for dark denim, the plain chambray for polka dots, and wore it open over a white tee. So, uh, I guess it’s not quite the same. Except for the scarf and the shoes. And the watch of course.

05_May_2015 - 1 of 10Scarf – J. Crew Factory (similar) | Chambray – Old Navy (similar) | Tee – Target (similar) | Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters (same) | Shoes – Hudson c/o Shopbop (same) | Watch c/o JORD (same)

05_May_2015 - 3 of 10Once again, I wore this outfit when it was still chilly in Chicago. Lately we’ve had warmer weather so thankfully these layers aren’t really necessary. Although, to be honest, I was finally getting the hang of layering!

05_May_2015 - 2 of 10chambray-and-plaid

Feelings of Deja Vu

Casual Clothes · Casual Friday · Office Appropriate Outfits - Spring

I know, I know, I just did a Then and Now post. But today’s outfit IS really similar to one I wore back in December. Just, you know, updated for spring!

utility-vest-chambray-shirt-3Scarf – gift (similar) | Vest – Old Navy swapped with Jen (similar) | Shirt – Target (similar) | Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters (same) | Shoes – Sperry (same)

And, if we’re being honest, I basically wore a version of this outfit all weekend. On Saturday I wore these jeans, a graphic tee, and a chambray shirt open over the top. Plus boots because it was raining.

On Sunday I wore these jeans, the chambray shirt, a different scarf, and these shoes. And my gray puffer vest.

And here we are today. That’s the nice thing about weekends. You don’t see the same people you work with so no one has to know how many days in a row you wore essentially the same outfit.

Except those of you that I saw this weekend and who are now reading this post. But you won’t tell, right?

utility-vest-chambray-shirt-2And, yes, if you’re keeping track I did indeed cheat on the Top 10 Remix over the weekend. So sue me.

 

What to wear in the mountains

Casual Clothes · Casual Friday

Although Jason and I had to fly to Arizona last week for a not-so-fun reason, I have to admit that I was a bit loathe to return to Chicago. Why? Well, for one, the views are amazing. The other? It was in the 50s! I was able to wear this outfit without a coat!

chambray-shirt-black-jeans-2Scarf – J. Crew Factory (similar) | Shirt – LOFT (same) | Jeans – American Eagle Outfitters (same) | Shoes – H by Hudson c/o Shopbop (same)

chambray-shirt-black-jeans-1I actually wore this outfit on the plane. I always bring a scarf in case it’s cold and these boots are perfect for plane travel because they slip on and off easily. This shirt is really, really soft and the jeans fit me well.

I also felt like I fit right in while in Flagstaff. It’s not a very fancy town so plaid, chambray, jeans and boots are all perfect for the casual, rustic, rural vibe.

Do you have a typical go-to travel outfit?

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I need a new shirt

Casual Friday

Today you get a “real blogger beauty” photo. What do I mean by that? I mean we took it last night after I’d worked all day (and gone to the gym). You get end-of-day make-up and end-of-day hair. Proof that I really wore this to work, I suppose.

polka-dot-sweater-gray-jeans-2Sweater – The Limited (same) | Shirt – Old Navy (similar) | Jeans – Henry & Belle (same) | Boots – Sam Edelman c/o Shopbop (same) | Bag – Nine West (same)

Jason and I braved the coldest temperatures of the year (not kidding) and met for drinks after work at Bar Takito which is right next to the train stop and around the corner from Chewie’s day care. So these photos are post-drink as well.

polka-dot-sweater-gray-jeans-3Also, I need shopping advice. Yes. Me. I need to know where your favorite chambray shirt is from (if you own one that you love). This one is just a tad too short on me and I don’t love that it’s a bit stiff. And the collar acts funny. So, I need a replacement. I’m intrigued by the one I linked above from Express but I’d love to crowdsource some ideas as well.

polka-dot-sweater-gray-jeans-1I’ll even take you out for a drink.